TY - JOUR JF - Acarologia T1 - Physical and nutritional requirements of house-dust mite Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and its fungal association VL - 28 IS - 4 SP - 345 EP - 353 PY - 1987 SN - 0044-586X SN - 2107-7207 PB - Les Amis d'Acarologia AU - de Saint Georges-Gridelet, D. UR - https://www1.montpellier.inrae.fr/CBGP/acarologia/article.php?id=2579 DA - 1987-12-30 KW - Behavioral factors KW - House dust mite KW - Dermatophagoides KW - Fungal association AB - The physical structure and nutritional component of the substrate were found to be decisive factors for the growth and survival of the house-dust mite, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus. To elucidate the physical limits of the food environment, population growth of D. pteronyssinus was investigated on rearing media as weil as on natural substrate. A more rapid reproduction of D. pteronyssinus on fibrous house-dust, as compared to rearing media consisting of non-fibrous fine particles, indicated that the mite prefers an aerated over a dense substrate. This was shown to be related to the antagonistic effects of the endemie mold, Aspergillus penicilloides, with which the mite establishes a symbiotic relationship. The fibrous component of the mattress microhabitat is a natural biotope for D. pteronyssinus. Deeper mattress fibres may provide a protective niche for mites during winter. They may also provide protection from other adverse environmental conditions. ER -